Locking member for interconnecting household appliances



F. WENGER June 30, 1970 LOCKING MEMBER FOR INTERCONNECTING HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCES Filed April 12. 1968 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG-.1

June 30, 1970 WENGER 3,517,977

LOCKING MEMBER FOR INTERCONNECTING HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCES Filed April 12, 1968 3 Shents-$heet b 5 b "*8 f 1 5 I I 1 6 14 6 June 30, 1970 F. WENGER 3,517,977

LOCKING MEMBER FOR INTERCQNNECTING HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCES Filed April 12. 1968 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIGS United States Patent 481 Int. Cl. A47b 47/00, 87/02; F16!) 12/00 US. Cl. 312111 2 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Two adjacent household appliances having laterally projecting border strips along adjacent upper edges are assembled with the border strips facing one another and with connecting bolts extending through holes in the border strips. The joint between the appliances is covered by a profiled locking member having an inverted V-shaped longitudinally extending upper portion overlying the upper edges of the border strips and a vertical plate portion received between the border strips and having at its lower edge laterally projecting ribs which lock under the border strips to secure the locking member in place and lock the two appliances against vertical movement relative to one another. The vertical plate portion has downwardly opening slots which accommodate the connecting bolts.

The present invention relates to a unit comprising two household devices.

The present invention has for its object an assembly of two household devices which are in the shape of parallelepipedal blocks and are removably assembled, comprising an edge projecting above each of the devices, the assembly being essentially characterized by at least two pins engaged by each extremity in opposing passages provided in the edges of each device, by at least two bolts removably connecting the devices by their lower facing parts, by at least one connecting rod for these devices removably engaged on the back surface of each device, by a covering section for the contacting parts at the edge of each device, and having a T-cross section whose horizontal wing effects the covering and whose vertical wing is engaged between said edges, said vertical wing having two nicks perpendicular to these pins of a width at least greater than the diameter of these pins and two ribs extending on either side of this wing and extending under the edges by engaging thereon when the devices are assembled.

The accompanying drawing represents by way of nonlimiting example a fryer with two units according to the invention.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view thereof.

FIG. 2 shows the two components of the fryer in disassembled position with their cover removed.

FIGS. 2a, 2b and 2c show elements used for assembling the units of the fryer.

FIG. 3 shows the assembly of a decorative strip.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the fryer of FIG. 1 with the cover removed.

FIG. 5 is a back view.

The fryer shown in the drawing (FIG. 1) is obtained by coupling two frying units A and B (FIG. 2) by means of the elements shown in FIGS. 2a, 2b, 2c, 3, 4, and 5.

Each of these units has on its front surface a control panel for adjusting the intensity of the heat of the oil contained in vat 2, pilot lights permitting to observe the functioning of the units.

Along their upper edge, the units each have a pro- 3,517,977 Patented June 30, 1970 ice jecting edge 3 whose longitudinal elements are pierced by passages 4.

It should also be noted that the side surfaces of each unit, a, are not vertical but are sli htly upwardly inclined towards the central axis of the unit, the upper edge ofthese surfaces leading to the foot of the corresponding part 'of edge 3.

These units rest on the ground by means of a base b and the part of walls a of each unit, near this base, is perforated by openings 5 for a purpose which will appear later.

Under the control panel of each frying unit is positioned a door 6 leading to a housing permitting to place thei'in all kinds of objects.

To assemble one unit to the other, there are introduced in the openings 4 of these units two bolts of the type illustrated by FIG. 2b, constituted by a cylindrical rod: provided in its centre by spacer 7, then there is engaged between these units a profiled element illustrated in FIG. 2a and having a T-cross section whose upper edges 8, forming a stripe, cover the upper surface of the facing edge elements 3 of the units.

The vertical wing of this profile 9 has two spaced slots 9a and 9b corresponding to openings 4 previously mentioried and of a diameter slightly greater than that of bolt 7; this core is moreover provided on its lower edge and on each of its surfaces by ribs 10a and 10b respectively.

This rib it at such a distance from the stripe-shaped wing 8 that upon engaging the profiled element of FIG. 2a between the units until the wing abuts on edge 3, ribs 10a and 10b will reach under the lower surface of each edge which prevents all vertical movement of one unit relative to the other when the units are positioned one against the other.

To maintain the units in this position, the fastening assembly comprises additionally a small bar 11 (FIGS. 4 and 5) which secures itself on the back of the units by means of butterfly screws 12.

Additionally use is made of other butterfly screws FIG. 20) the screw part of which is passed through openings 5 previously mentioned.

To improve the appearance of the assembly thus made, in particular in order to camouflage the space separating the two units, which is particularly due to the fact that the side surfaces of these units are not vertical but are inclined toward the interior of the units, in particular in order to make possible the placing of the covering section 8-9 and in particular of ribs 10a and 10b between the units, the assembly according to the invention comprises a decorative strip 13 constituted by an iron member having a U-shape which engages by its wings on vertical mouldings 14 on each unit on either side of control panel 1 or door 6. The maintenance of this strip is obtained by engaging its upper part under the front part of edge 3 and engaging it on its lower part by any suitable means not shown.

The invention is naturally not limited to what has been represented in the drawings but encompasses on the contrary all modifications of shape and of dimension as well as of material to which the inventive concept previously given may give rise.

Although there has been represented and shown only an application to an assembly of frying units, this invention can be used to assemble all types of equipment blocks used in the hotel industry such as grills, dishwarmers, and refrigerators.

What is claimed is:

1. In an assembly of two adjacent household applicances having along adjacent upper edges laterally projecting border strips having upper surfaces at the same level, ver- 3 tical surfaces facing one another and lower edges equally spaced from said 'upper'surfaces' and forming shoulders, said border strips having registered bolt holes therethrough between said upper surfaces and lower edges, bolts extending through said holes to interconnect said appliances and an elongate locking member having an inverted V-shaped longitudinally extending upper portion overlying said upper surfaces of said border strips and a longitudinally extending vertical plate portion projecting downwardly from inside the apex of said V- shaped portion and lying between said vertical surfaces of said border strips, said vertical plate portion having vertical slots registering witih said bolt holes of said border strips and opening to the lower edge of said vertical plate portion and laterally projecting longitudinally extending ribs on opposite sides of said vertical plate portionspaced from said upper portion a distance to engage under said lower edges of said border strips when said upper portion is in engagement with the upper surfaces of said border strips, said vertically extending slots permiting introduction of said vertical plate portion between said border strips after said bolts are in said holes and said ribs locking under the lower edges References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,064,056 12/1936 Cookson 312-107 X 2,686,700 8/1954 McCarran 312-111 X 2,702,732 2/1955 McCarran 312-111 X 2,752,215 6/1956 Peiss 312-111 3,001,844 9/1961 Spring 312-111 3,351,400 11/1967 Sholtes 312-111 CASMIR A. NUNBERG, Primary Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 

